HB308 seeks credit-card rule change

A bill that would require credit card-issuing banks to make increased disclosures of terms, conditions, procedures and fees to merchants was recommended for study by a legislative committee.

Members of the House Public Utilities and Technology Committee unanimously voted Tuesday afternoon to send HB308 back to the House Rules Committee and recommended study in an interim committee.

Merchants don't always have access to the fine-print disclosures that they must accept if they run a credit card, said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan.

Opponents argued the bill would only apply to state-chartered banks and not nationally chartered banks. The net effect, they argued, would be that state-chartered banks would seek federal charters.

Paul Allred of the Utah Department of Financial Institutions said the bill may conflict with federal regulation.